“Place your right hand on the bible,” the bailiff ordered and Ian complied. “State your name,” he said.
“Ian Aberdeen.”
“You do solemnly state that the testimony you may give in the cause now pending before this court shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?”
“I do.”
I gulped audibly.
“Mister Aberdeen,” the prosector began, “what is your position at the Ugandan orphanage Masego?”
“I’m technically a teacher there but I suppose you could also consider me a jack of all trades. I mend fences, birth the occasional calf, assist in medical emergencies, that sort of thing.”
“Were you present at Masego for the lenght of Miss Price’s stay?”
“I was.”
“And are you an authorized representative of Masego?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Tell the court then, Mister Aberdeen, your experience with Miss Price during her stay at Masego.”
“The day Sophie came to Uganda,” he began...
For the next hour and a half, Ian told our entire story to the court leaving out the part where we fell madly for one another. It was an incredible story to hear all at once and I found myself crying at the tale. I peered around me and noticed there didn’t seem to be a dry eye in the room. But he never once made eye contact throughout the entire thing and that wounded my already bleeding heart. He was going to help me, yes, but he wanted nothing to do with me beyond saving my hide.
When he was done, the prosecution dismissed him and he sat on the opposite side of the courtroom to await Judge Reinhold’s decision. I looked on him, begging him to glance my direction but his stare at the front of the courtroom was unmoving.
“Sophie?” I heard.
I turned to Reinhold. “Uh, I’m sorry, did you say something?” I asked him.
Reinhold breathed deeply. With a brief tap of his gavel, “I dismiss your case as time served. You’re free to go, Miss Price.” Reinhold stood and the rest of the courtroom followed suit. He made a move to go but stopped himself. “Before I leave, Miss Price” he said, turning toward me, “know this, yours is the most satisfying punishment I’ve ever given.” He inclined his head out of respect and I nodded once in return.
When Reinhold was gone, I turned, ready to run Ian’s direction. I sprinted around the table, pushing chairs out of my way, my heart jumping into my throat without ever taking my stare off his heavenly face.
Everyone rushed me at once, congratulating me and attempting to hug me. Spencer bombarded me, kissing my cheek, and picking me up. I struggled to get down, still staring Ian’s direction. Finally, he made brief eye contact before walking through the double doors and out of my eyesight.
I broke free and ran for him.
“Ian! Ian!” I kept shouting before a passing officer ordered me quiet.
I ran the length of the corridor but he was nowhere to be found. I pressed the elevator button for the first floor but was too impatient watching it slowly ascend for me so I ripped open the fire exit door and ran the four flights to the ground floor. I was panting when I burst from the door on that floor. My eyes searched for him throughout the marble lobby. He wasn’t there. I rushed to the wide, wood entrance doors and out onto the descending steps. I discovered him just as he entered a taxi. I sprinted down the steps calling out his name and waving my arms over my head but he was gone. My disappointment was crushing. I fell hard to the bottom of the steps and sobbed into my hands.
“Why did he just take off like that?” Spencer asked coolly beside me, looking the direction he’d fled. I peered up at him. His hands rested in his pockets.
“Because he thought I betrayed him,” I said.
He tore his gaze away from the street and observed me below him. “You didn’t?” he asked.
“No, I-I was blackmailed.”
“Scandalous,” he said, bending to sit beside me. He leaned back on his elbows. He looked back out toward the street, avoiding eye contact. “You’re in love with him,” he stated as fact.
“Yes.”
Spencer sighed, turning toward me. “Then what the hell are you doing here, Sophie Price?”